Cold Wars, Mepacon, and the Continuing Winter of Con Season

 So this weekend was the apparent resurrection of Cold Wars, down at the Eisenhower in Gettysburg.   From the initial announcement I had no intention of going.  Too many inadequate memories from many decades past, and nostalgic PTSD from a recent swing by, and even when I talked to folks who had been there recently for other types of shows, the best response was "It wasn't that bad," and that opinion changed once I explained to dual-site set-up.

Regardless, the con occurred, early reports had a mixture of fun, and a lament that the Ike doesn't run a shuttle between the hotel and the All-Star Complex, where the vendors, flea markets, and tournaments were taking place.   Pictures are sparse, showed ballrooms with Friday morning Distelfink attendance, and the games showcased were moderately attended.   The pictures haven't been great compared to my guerrilla-style iPhone shoots with a streaky lens, so I hope there's some great stuff and greater attendance show in.  

Knowing this was a free weekend, I tried to cobble together a "Cold Wars at Home" with the girls:  knock out some fun games on my list, a board game or two, some group painting, and maybe break out their own Gamma World characters for a quick session.

It took two weeks trying to get confirmation from either of them, or their mother, only to get a late Thursday night "We're going to New York to see Heathers the musical.  We'll be back Sunday afternoon for Millie's tryouts." 

I had hope for maybe some Sunday afternoon time, but then (a) tryouts were pushed back later in the week and (b) Heathers the Musical was playing in New York.... Upstate New York, in Albany, which meant they wouldn't be home till late (they're still 3 hours away from home at this writing).  

I thought about doing some solo stuff, some painting, but beyond washing and vacuuming the car, it's been a grumpy weekend.

Historicon 2025 event registration allegedly opens up tomorrow, and we have some ideas and events outlined, but the next con for me was supposed to be Mepacon 48, April 4-6 at the Delta by Marriott Allentown/Lehigh Valley.

I had some excitement over this, as it's five minutes away from my friend Steve's house (Squiggles/Ne'vets, Echellon from my games), and it might be a great opportunity to bring his son to a convention.  Now Steve's possibilities are still true, but there is no way in hell I can make a single second of that conf.  

First, my eldest Maja, has a pretty solid role in her high school's production of the Footloose, so I'll be in Northeast PA Friday and Saturday night.

Compounding things more, those tryouts Millie needs to attend? They're for her AAU Basketball team, which has a tournament in Lancaster that Saturday and Sunday.  

So I'll leave the table partially set up and maybe do some solo stuff over the wee.  Maybe I'll get some pretty big projects off the painting table. I really didn't need anything from the vendor that were at Cold Wars, so with tax return money in hand, I'll place an order from one of the missing vendors, Brigade Games,  and that will be that.